Chiesa Di Totti - Serie A, Round 29: Roma vs. UdineseCautiously Optimistic Since 2007https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48469/totti-fave.png2020-07-03T17:31:15+02:00http://www.chiesaditotti.com/rss/stream/210741492020-07-03T17:31:15+02:002020-07-03T17:31:15+02:00Sinners & Saints: Roma vs. Udinese
<figure>
<img alt="AS Roma v Udinese - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/l-pXCF5unCNxqG3fVBwkZtU63eE=/0x0:4252x2835/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67014499/1224401365.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Claudio Pasquazi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Once again, no saints.</p> <p id="DWXwOX">This was a deflating match to watch. Watching one 2-0 loss is tough; watching a second 2-0 loss in the span of five days is both painful and inexcusable. Roma’s battle against <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/udinese">Udinese</a> was supposed to be a fairly simple affair; Roma has aspirations for European qualification where Udinese is simply trying to stay afloat and avoid relegation. Yet here we are, with qualification for the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> through Serie A essentially an impossibility and the entire club to blame. </p>
<p id="xYPRwH">We’re all sinners when Roma loses 2-0 to Udinese, but one player I will give a quick shout-out to is Carles Perez, the one Giallorossi player who looked half-decent yesterday. As bren said in the post-match report, the ex-Barcelona winger showed that he has the agility and tactical knowledge to be a force for a better club than Roma is acting like at the moment. Six shots on goal, three shots on target: he certainly was the only attacking player who deserved to be wearing a Roma shirt versus Udinese.</p>
<p id="DZVH3X">With that, here are the most egregious sinners of Roma-Udinese.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="dPEsMo">
<h2 id="E0GGnQ">Diego Perotti</h2>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="AS Roma v Udinese Calcio - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/x_AUZdjxBJO5LaWbqHMg5Fx0ck4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20066126/1253936063.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Silvia Lore/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="oUl0VP">If you get a red card before 30 minutes have elapsed in a match, you’re probably going to find yourself on the Sinners list the next day. Add in the fact that Diego Perotti wore the captain’s armband and did the exact opposite of rising to the occasion, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he was the most sinful of all Giallorossi players against Udinese.</p>
<p id="Us2mO6">It’s been clear for quite a while that Perotti is simply no longer at the level of quality needed for a club with Roma’s aspirations. He has spent more time injured than playing in the last few seasons, and he absolutely wasted one of the few opportunities he has been given by Paulo Fonseca to start ahead of Justin Kluivert. Some people have been debating the red card he received, saying dribblers very rarely should be getting carded like that. I would argue the fact that he got a red in such a bizarre way only confirms that he completely deserved it; he was dribbling and stamped on an Udinese player’s leg, earning a red that sparked the beginning of the end for Roma.</p>
<p id="A0TRR6">This loss to Udinese confirmed that Roma needs to have yet another rejuvenation of its squad. Along with <span>Juan Jesus</span>, Diego Perotti should be among the first to leave the Olimpico, Friedkin buyout or no.</p>
<h2 id="Sddwbd">James Pallotta</h2>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Roma v Liverpool UEFA Champions League 2/05/2018." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S7newBzBSjB1wEd27G4G2L4WxJI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/18281860/954756772.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="zQKzGS">This brings me to my next point: you can criticize Paulo Fonseca, Gianluca Petrachi, <span>Morgan De Sanctis</span>, or even a player who is obviously past his prime like Diego Perotti all you want. The real sinner out of all the Romanisti at fault for Roma’s situation is James Pallotta. You will never know if you have the best possible manager you can have if you have a bad owner. You will never know if your Director of Football is finding the best deals if you have a bad owner. You will never know if your squad is maximizing its potential if you have a bad owner. At this point, I think we have to realize that Pallotta is a bad owner, plain and simple.</p>
<p id="yvZy4g">Pallotta telling the <em>Corriere Dello Sport</em> that the match was <a href="https://www.football-italia.net/155339/pallotta-embarrassing">“embarrassing”</a> is obviously an acknowledgement of reality, but if there’s one thing we’ve never really seen from Roma’s current president, it is introspection or awareness that some of the issues that consistently plague Roma could be his fault. The merry-go-round in management, the supermarket attitude towards the sales of stars, the lack of progress on the Stadio Della Roma, the seemingly-botched sale to The Friedkin Group: these are all symptoms of a much larger problem, which is that James Pallotta does not know how to properly run a football club. It’s either that, or he trusts the wrong people to run his football club over and over again, which is arguably worse.</p>
<p id="D6aW2o">Some may see a 2-0 loss to relegation-battling Udinese as an indicator that Paulo Fonseca should be worried about his job security. In my mind, if Roma had smart ownership, he would have very little reason to be worried; with current ownership, however, I’m less sure. Other big clubs in Serie A have given their management more chances to fail in the short-term, understanding that developing some form of consistency in management and personnel is crucial to developing the proper mentality in an organization. Pallotta has never seemed to understand that. Hopefully Roma can end this chapter of her history sooner rather than later, because I don’t know how much longer I can be regularly reading about the reality TV-style management of the Giallorossi.</p>
<h2 id="O4uvdt">Cengiz Ünder</h2>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="AS Roma v Udinese - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6gDxTZNfgIcHKDErBVeaTAu6SEk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20066153/1224401101.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Claudio Pasquazi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="BUw9D9">I have less vitriol for Cengiz Ünder today, partially because he’s most likely headed to <a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/">Napoli</a> in the near future and partially because at his best in Rome, he’s been a thrilling watch. Yet matches like this confirm that it’s good for both parties to move on if the price is right. You can say that Fonseca put Ünder into a weird position on the field, you can say that he just doesn’t fit with Fonseca’s tactics period, you can give him all the excuses you want. Great players find a way to make it work, and despite the few months of greatness Ünder had in the spring of 2018, it seems that at least in Rome, Ünder isn’t going to find that greatness again.</p>
<p id="m04PUe">If this was Cengiz Ünder’s last match with the Giallorossi (and it very well may have been), it will have been emblematic of his time in Rome: the pieces all seemed to be there, but it wasn’t enough to make a consistent impact on the scoreboard.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="PLdtRz">
<h1 id="FTO5HD">Saints</h1>
<p id="kU1xpx">Hah. Just kidding.</p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/7/3/21312478/sinners-saints-roma-vs-udineseJimmy Miotto2020-07-02T23:48:09+02:002020-07-02T23:48:09+02:00Rancid Roma Fall 2-0 to Udinese
<figure>
<img alt="AS Roma v Udinese - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/K2Q6ULeNbCnSCBzrNC9tIulPrU8=/0x0:2835x1890/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67012320/1224401099.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Claudio Pasquazi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Roma were punchless and worn out against 16th place Udinese today and were outworked in nearly every measure. </p> <p id="CUZPQh">With three month's worth of matches squeezed into eight weeks, Paulo Fonseca's creativity and personnel management skills were always going to be taxed during the re-start, but with his already fatigued squad missing several key pieces, Fonseca was really under the gun this evening. With Jordan Veretout and Lorenzo Pellegrini suspended for this match and Pau Lopez, Gianluca Mancini and <span>Juan Jesus</span> out injured and/or ill, Fonseca's starting eleven was like a kindergartner's art project—just throw a bunch of glitter and glue into a pile and hope people think it's cute. </p>
<p id="DSs9zu">Despite all that upheaval, with the likes of Chris Smalling, Aleksandar Kolarov and Cengiz Ünder, Roma had the stronger lineup on paper, but you wouldn't have known that once the opening whistle blew. Within minutes of kickoff, Udinese nearly found the back of the net with a low right-to-left cross that narrowly missed putting Roma on the back foot.</p>
<p id="jagGLp">Udinese may not have found the back of the net in the opening moments of this match, but they were more energetic, more decisive, more aggressive and, let's face it, more competent than Roma. However, in a bitter twist, they broke open the match thanks to a miss-hit from Rodrigo DePaul, who likely hit the ball with too much of his heel, turning his scorcher towards the upper corner into an unintended but surprisingly accurate assist to Kevin Lasagna who tucked it home with ease.</p>
<p id="sA2wSG">Things would settle down a bit as the match pushed past the 20 minute mark, but the wheels really came off in the 29th minute when Diego Perotti decided to plow over three defenders during a futile Leo Messi impersonation, earning a straight red in the process leaving Roma with 10 men with an hour of match time left.</p>
<p id="gXCGO0">Udinese continued to hunt for that second goal as the first half played on, but Roma very nearly had an equalizer when Bryan Cristante seized upon a long rebound only to crack the cross bar with his near 30-yard effort.</p>
<p id="XEKIap">The final moments of the first half were difficult to watch as Roma were gasping for air as Udinese was stringing together pass after pass. </p>
<h2 id="Qjqkqq">Second Half</h2>
<p id="rmdLUv">With Roma down a man, Cengiz Ünder was the unfortunate and odd man odd, as he made way for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who now assumed Perotti's play-making role in the center of the pitch. But it would be the man ostensibly taking Ünder's job that breathed some life into Roma. It's far too early to tell what type of player Carles Perez will be, but he's quick, agile and can worm his way into the smallest gaps in the back line, and in the 49th minute he nearly put a shot in-between Musso's legs to level the match and tested him twice more in the next ten minutes. </p>
<p id="fNWuDW">Fonseca would go to the bench once more in the 63rd minute, bringing on Davide Zappacosta for Bruno Peres and Gonzalo Villar for Amadou Diawara, neither of whom looked particularly sharp today. </p>
<p id="am80FI">Those initial changes did very little to change the momentum in the match and Roma were an offside call away from going down 2-0 after Lukasz Teodorczyk was judged offside after getting well behind Roma's back-line and beating Mirante with a low shot.</p>
<p id="QiSWVO">Fonseca would counter Udinese with his final two substitutions: Edin Dzeko for Kalinic and Roger Ibañez for Federico Fazio. Shortly after this swap, Chris Smalling missed an agonizing would-be equalizer from two-yards out, only to see Rodrigo De Paul squander a chance to double <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/udinese">Udinese's</a> lead moments later with a rather heavy touch.</p>
<p id="GxhINL">De Paul would deliver the killing blow in the 78th minute when he settled a switch of play from Seko Fofana before delivering an assist to Ilija Nesterovski, who had plenty of room to tuck it away. It was emblematic of the differences between the two clubs on the day: Udinese were able to tilt the pitch at will, finding gaps and crevices all over Roma's rearguard, and then play quick and decisive balls to exploit those weaknesses. </p>
<p id="iiIspy">The final moments of the match were academic; this one was practically over before it started.</p>
<h2 id="tzracq">Conclusions</h2>
<p id="uFh7QU">Occam's razor tells us that the simplest solution is the likely answer. In that light, this loss should fall squarely on Paulo Fonseca's shoulders, but you have to consider the circumstances here. With the compact fixture list compounded by the suspensions of Pellegrini and Veretout and the injuries to Lopez, Mancini and Jesus, Fonseca's roster was practically threadbare this evening. I'm not suggesting he's blameless, but there were extenuating circumstances forcing his lineup and rotation selections against Udinese.</p>
<p id="9KeiDs">Having said all that, we're still talking about a manager whose points per match is among the worst during the American era and one who hasn't guided Roma to more than three-straight wins at any point this season in all competitions. He's also the manager who just gave Udinese it's first victory since January 12th. Things aren't looking great for him or the club at the moment.</p>
<p id="cbHLAH">I expect there will be a cascade of stories, rumors and innuendo about his job security tomorrow morning, but at this point I'm not sure which way the scales should tip. Would changing managers during the pandemic—a time when everything is compressed and finding a replacement and building the team to suit a new identity would be tremendously difficult—be the best course of action for the club? Or should they ride it out and give Fonseca another year, a real year in which there is (god willing) not a three-month interruption in play.</p>
<p id="JVqA2c">One thing is for sure, with everything going on with Roma at the moment, a managerial controversy is the last thing they need.</p>
<h2 id="JDVtEz">Up Next</h2>
<p id="NK0umQ">A trip to <a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/">Napoli</a> on Sunday. </p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/7/2/21311970/roma-0-udinese-2-match-reviewbren2020-07-02T20:46:46+02:002020-07-02T20:46:46+02:00Roma vs. Udinese: Lineups & Match Thread
<figure>
<img alt="AS Roma v UC Sampdoria - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JLiXuDB95o8oC6oCkr3UOLbm57E=/0x0:2628x1752/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67011380/1222796744.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The matches are coming fast and furious</p> <p id="Z0ztqM">Following last weekend's disappointing two-nill loss at the San Siro to AC Milan, a suddenly short-handed Roma welcome 16th place Udinese to the Olimpico. With Roma short Lorenzo Pellegrini, Jordan Veretout and Gianluca Mancini, Paulo Fonseca has been forced to make even more changes to an already weary lineup.</p>
<p id="B9EU4K">Let's see if works!</p>
<aside id="gRXb5d"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Shorthanded Roma Looks to Bounce Back Against Udinese","url":"https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/7/1/21309866/roma-udinese-match-preview"},{"title":"How to Watch Roma vs. Udinese: TV and Streaming Options","url":"https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/7/2/21311129/how-to-watch-roma-vs-udinese-tv-and-streaming-options"}]}'></div></aside><h2 id="fYRZJ6">Lineups</h2>
<div id="IZMFfU">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="it" dir="ltr">⚡️ Ecco la formazione scelta da <a href="https://twitter.com/PFonsecaCoach?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PFonsecaCoach</a> per <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RomaUdinese?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RomaUdinese</a> ⚡️<br><br>FORZA ROMA! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASRoma?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ASRoma</a> <a href="https://t.co/yf5iIqlEhR">pic.twitter.com/yf5iIqlEhR</a></p>— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialASRoma/status/1278761663144046593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2020</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/7/2/21311780/roma-vs-udinese-lineups-match-threadbren2020-07-02T14:22:10+02:002020-07-02T14:22:10+02:00How to Watch Roma vs. Udinese: TV and Streaming Options
<figure>
<img alt="Oakland Zoo Nears Bankruptcy As Coronavirus Forces Extended Closure" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LFIcrc7OeBEnaTR54d2EIU6bWUQ=/0x0:4399x2933/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67009314/1253746169.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Kick off is several hours away. Here's how to watch today's match against Udinese.</p> <h3 id="HS9R7c">MATCH INFO</h3>
<p id="GlsyV1"><strong>Location: </strong>Stadio Olimpico, Roma</p>
<p id="R7GPPj"><strong>Kick-off time:</strong> July 2nd. 21:45 CET/3:45 EDT</p>
<h3 id="pmqbq5">WATCH IT</h3>
<div id="jGpfeb">
<div id="lstv-root-match-3667538" class="lstv-match" data-match="3667538" data-open="0" data-width="100%" data-height="auto"><a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3667538/roma-vs-udinese/">Roma - Udinese</a></div>
<script>(function(d, s, id) {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) return;js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "https://www.livesoccertv.com/widgets/sdk.js?v=82";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, "script", "lstv-jssdk"));</script>
</div>
<p id="N8QIat">If you live in the United States, you can watch on <a href="http://go.web.plus.espn.com/c/482924/535100/9070?sharedid=ChieseaDiTotti">ESPN+</a> (affiliate link) and we get a portion of the subscription if you use this link.</p>
<p id="Oj0XeG">If you live elsewhere in the world, there are plenty more viewing options <a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/3396106/roma-vs-lecce/"><strong>here</strong></a>, and if you like snap judgments, cursing, and sarcasm, you can follow us <a href="https://twitter.com/chiesaditotti"><strong>on Twitter</strong></a>. If you haven’t already, join the fray on our message boards; we don’t bite. We’re also available at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Chiesa.Di.Totti">Zuckerberg Discount Data Warehouse</a>.</p>
<p id="V3Hq4t">Check out the stream below for our match preview, probable formations and more.</p>
<p id="wKEsnl"></p>
<p id="eDI4qm"></p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/7/2/21311129/how-to-watch-roma-vs-udinese-tv-and-streaming-optionsbren2020-07-01T22:00:00+02:002020-07-01T22:00:00+02:00Shorthanded Roma Looks to Bounce Back Against Udinese
<figure>
<img alt="Udinese Calcio v AS Roma - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hcFEARoOvPouls6MMSKfw_fhxWA=/0x0:2996x1997/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67006985/1179072537.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Roma will look to rebound from Sunday’s loss to Milan against relegation battling Udinese. </p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="EW9X3y">All of the momentum from Roma’s victory over <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/sampdoria">Sampdoria</a> came to a screeching halt over the weekend, as the Giallorossi lost to Milan 2-0 at the San Siro. The loss ended Roma’s three match win streak in league play. </p>
<p id="zpzaJ5">It was a listless performance from the Giallorossi who looked fatigued and out of tune in the attacking half of the pitch. And in similarly concerning fashion to the Samp match, Roma gifted its opponent goals. </p>
<p id="Y5udAf">The loss to the Rossoneri was a brutal blow to Roma’s hopes of qualifying for the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> via the domestic route. That’s because <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/atalanta">Atalanta</a> moved nine points clear of the Giallorossi by defeating Thursday’s opponent, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/udinese">Udinese</a>, in a hotly contested match at the Friuli. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="24OmpJ">
<p id="N3GyS2"><strong>Roma v. Udinese</strong>: July 2nd. 21:45 CET/15:45 EDT. Stadio Olimpico, Rome.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="I53EeY">
<p id="uhJ1Z5">Udinese made life tough on La Dea despite falling behind in less than 10 minutes through a Zapata goal. Udinese equalized behind Kevin Lasagna (31’), but a <span>Luis Muriel</span> double (71’, 79’) gave the visitors a 3-1 advantage. The Zebrette wouldn’t give in easily as Lasagna scored his own double in the 87th minute. However, it was too little too late as Udinese fell 3-2 at home. With the loss the Zebrette remain winless in nine straight league matches. </p>
<p id="tNlsc8">Both teams will try and rebound from their weekend losses when they meet at the Olimpico on Thursday night. However, before we get to the keys to Thursday’s match, let’s look back at the last time these two sides met back in October. </p>
<h2 id="qLquMY">Last Match</h2>
<h3 id="OQYXN0">October 30, 2019: Udinese 0, Roma 4</h3>
<div id="gY0kbH"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cWN95BZRB0I?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="ffcv2l">The first time these two sides met, Roma traveled to the Friuli for a tricky midweek encounter. Much like they find themselves now, the Giallorossi were in a brutal stretch of matches. Playing twice weekly and decimated by injuries, nobody would’ve been surprised if Roma followed up a win over Milan with a clunker in Udine. </p>
<p id="7lSGrW">Roma jumped out to an early advantage behind a Nicolò Zaniolo goal in the 13th minute. However, it looked like disaster had struck when Federico Fazio was given a straight red card as <span>Stefano Okaka</span> closed in on Pau Lopez. Roma was down to 10 men with a shorthanded roster and playing its fourth match in just 10 days. </p>
<p id="RJ7FmP">But rather than roll over and concede to Udinese, the Giallorossi put in one of their best team performances of the season. The numerical disadvantage didn’t stop the Giallorossi from pouring it on the Zebrette, who had just conceded seven to Atalanta over the weekend. </p>
<p id="TSMYiZ">Chris Smalling was able to double the Giallorossi advantage in the 51st minute on a corner kick. Then just minutes later, Justin Kluivert put the game out of reach as Roma hit Udinese with a beautifully constructed counter attack. Finally, Aleksandar Kolarov put the cherry on top of this one by converting a penalty kick in the 65th minute. Roma traveled back to the capital 4-0 winners on the night. </p>
<h2 id="drQxh6">What To Watch For</h2>
<h3 id="55HHAD">How Do Roma Replace Veretout?</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="AC Milan v AS Roma - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XeR5Evih71scrKPT0XP_bUHwD6w=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20062348/1253267856.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="311MOI">This season, while others around him have succumb to injury and poor form, the Frenchman has been a constant in the Roma midfield . In fact, Veretout has appeared in every Roma match this season after sitting out the first two . But for the first time, Paulo Fonseca won’t have him as an option due to yellow card suspension. </p>
<p id="KiHUzd">Veretout is the engine of the Roma midfield. Therefore, Fonseca will not only have to replace a player who ran the second most KM in Roma’s first two matches back, but also the man who led the Giallorossi in passes completed and balls played. Veretout is far more than just hustle and <em>grinta</em>. In many ways Roma’s offense flows through him.</p>
<aside id="fuywcN"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data="{"stories":[{"title":"Probable Formations: Roma v. Udinese ","url":"https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/7/1/21309354/probable-formations-roma-v-udinese"},{"title":"Gonzalo Villar: Roma's Moneyball Dream Come True","url":"https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/6/9/21282368/gonzalo-villar-roma-moneyball-analysis"}]}"></div></aside><p id="czc8fk">Gonzalo Villar is currently being tipped to replace him in the Giallorossi XI. However, the role that Veretout plays will almost certainly fall on Bryan Cristante with Villar sitting deeper. Cristante is often ridiculed for not being a deep-lying midfielder, so it’ll be interesting to see how he performs in more of a box-to-box role. How well the Italian can fill Veretout’s role could go a long way in seeing Roma win this one. </p>
<h3 id="1zOost">Roma Needs to Stop Gifting Its Opponents Goals</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="(SP)ITALY-MILAN-FOOTBALL-SERIE A-AC MILAN VS ROMA" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Cj_RnKFxkKAtH_dUzrGjfOkzK50=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20062351/1223717542.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Xinhua/Cheng Tingting via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="C2qKQq">In their first two matches back, the Giallorossi have conceded three goals. That’s not an awfully high total. However, when you consider the way Roma has conceded those goals, it’s a bit maddening. In Roma’s first match back, Amadou Diawara’s errant pass allowed <span>Manolo Gabbiadini</span> to open the scoring as <span>Antonio Mirante</span> was hung out to dry. </p>
<p id="SgRqCf">Then against Milan, another poor pass, this one from Zappacosta, put Milan in on goal. Mirante was able to parry away the initial Milan attempt, as well as the rebound. Nevertheless, the third time was the charm as Roma were unable to clear the first two rebounds. Then with Milan up 1-0, Chris Smalling was whistled for a penalty kick that allowed the Rossoneri to put the match out of reach.</p>
<p id="U7Thwe">All three of those goals were wholly avoidable and while Roma was able to recover from the Samp goal, there was no coming back from the gifts given to Milan. Roma’s attack was non-existent at the San Siro (more on that in a minute), but without those two gimmes, the Giallorossi likely would’ve emerged with a point. Udinese might not be the most imposing opposition, but players like Rodrigo De Paul and Kevin Lasagna could make Roma pay if its not more tidy on the ball. </p>
<h3 id="J3bzLl">The Offense Needs to Get Flowing</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Edin Dzeko (L) of AS Roma competes for a header with Andrea..." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/M_4j6TNBJ_gds90ETWpSxxM94iI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20062353/1223453068.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="TIcUmE">The Giallorossi attack went missing in action on Sunday at the San Siro. Roma managed just one shot on target and never truly threatened Gigi Donnarumma’s goal. It was a tired performance in which Henrikh Mkhitaryan was the only player to show some offensive spark. Meanwhile, Edin Dzeko looked to be a shell of the man who scored a mouthwatering double against Samp. </p>
<p id="0prCUx">If the Milan match proved anything, its that Roma need players not named Dzeko to start contributing goals. Far too often, as Dzeko goes, so does the Roma attack, especially with Zaniolo out. Fonseca will be hoping that an Udinese side that Roma pegged for four back in October can help cure the Giallorossi’s offensive woes with <a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/">Napoli</a> looming on Sunday. </p>
<p class="c-end-para" id="bh20fM">Fonseca came here with the reputation of a manager whose team can score goals with the best of them. We’ve seen that in bits and pieces this season, but too often Roma has been kept in check. There’s no time like the present for Roma to start scoring more consistently because the matches are coming fast and furious this month. </p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/7/1/21309866/roma-udinese-match-previewssciavillo2020-07-01T18:30:00+02:002020-07-01T18:30:00+02:00Probable Formations: Roma v. Udinese
<figure>
<img alt="KAA Gent v AS Roma - UEFA Europa League Round of 32: Second Leg" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/65XiN5anojOCiMHj_O50e2pRx1M=/0x0:1889x1259/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67005868/1209241684.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Roma will be without two key players due to suspension for this one. How will Fonseca replace Veretout and Pellegrini? </p> <p id="tHxsNQ">In nothing short of a minor miracle, the overall health of the Giallorossi continues to improve. Nicoló Zaniolo returned to first team training this week, while Pau Lopez also continues to creep closer to a return. So, even though the result on the pitch left a lot to be desired this weekend, the Giallorossi can count their blessings in this area; one where they’ve suffered all season.</p>
<p id="o4CL6W">Despite the short injured list, Fonseca will also be without Jordan Veretout and Lorenzo Pellegrini against the Zebrette on Thursday. Both midfielders will miss out on this one due to yellow card suspension. Thus, we should expect a decent amount of turnover again for this match, as Fonseca manages the suspensions and player fatigue for Roma’s third match in eight days. </p>
<p id="HfVogn">Even though there was optimism for Lopez returning from his wrist fracture for this match, it doesn’t look like he’s quite ready. So, as of now, <span>Antonio Mirante</span> is again expected to start in net. In front of Mirante, Fonseca’s preferred center back pairing of Chris Smalling and Gianluca Mancini are expected to start together for the second consecutive match. Meanwhile, for the third straight match, expect a complete full back rotation with Bruno Peres and Aleksandar Kolarov replacing Zappacosta and Spinazzola. </p>
<p id="wcRnaF">Moving into the midfield, Gonzalo Villar could be presented with a big opportunity. The young Spaniard is currently being tipped to start alongside Bryan Cristante in Veretout’s absence ahead of Diawara. In this pairing, Cristante would take on Veretout’s role with Villar sitting deeper as a <em>regista</em>.</p>
<p id="AXwJnW">Meanwhile, Javier Pastore is expected to start at the <em>trequartista </em>position in place of Pellegrini. On the right wing, Cengiz Ünder is currently favored to get his first minutes since league play resumed. Meanwhile, Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both look to be locks for their third consecutive starts at striker and left wing. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/q2hYIZ1GGuq-5FzDe727GUb2ygY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20062165/Screenshot_2020_07_01_Roma___Udinese.png">
<cite>Corriere dello Sport</cite>
</figure>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2020/7/1/21309354/probable-formations-roma-v-udinesessciavillo